Evaluating the effect of seed-priming for improving arsenic tolerance in rice

Abstract

Arsenic (As) toxicity affecting the\xa0animal and human health has become a major concern in the last few decades. Present study evaluated the role of the\xa0seed-priming with the\xa0Moringa olifera leaf extract (MLE) for ameliorating the\xa0As toxicity in rice during the seedling stage. The\xa0As toxicity (As III and As V) affected the\xa0germination frequency and the\xa0plant growth of rice. However, the\xa0As III had more severe effect on the\xa0rice seedlings as compared to the\xa0As V. Following the study, the\xa0MLE seed-priming improved the\xa0seed germination and the\xa0plant growth of rice under both the\xa0As III and the\xa0As V toxicity. The\xa0seed-priming also improved the\xa0relative water content and the\xa0chlorophyll content of the\xa0rice seedlings under the\xa0As stress. The study also showed the\xa0MLE seed-priming to decrease the electrolyte leakage and the\xa0MDA content in rice seedlings, thereby maintaining the plant growth under the\xa0As toxicity.